Apparatus for display movement of a laptop computer

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a laptop computer including a body and a display articulably connected to the body. The laptop computer includes at least one drive unit capable of moving the display relative to the body.

TRADEMARKS

IBM® is a registered trademark of International Business MachinesCorporation, Armonk, N.Y., U.S.A. Other names used herein may beregistered trademarks, trademarks or product names of InternationalBusiness Machines Corporation or other companies.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to laptop computers, and particularly to movementof a laptop computer display.

2. Description of Background

Laptop computers commonly include a hinge mechanism which allows forarticulation of a laptop display up to 180 degrees from the laptopkeypad about a hinge axis to “open” or “close” the laptop. Some laptopsinclude a hinge mechanism which allows for side-to-side rotation of thedisplay about a rotation axis perpendicular in addition to thearticulation about the hinge axis. The movement of the display isaccomplished manually, usually be grasping a portion of the display andpushing or pulling to rotate the display to the desired position. Thisrequires moving a hand from the laptop keypad to move the display, whichmay be inconvenient if adjustment is required or desired often due to,for instance, changing ambient light conditions or user viewingposition.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The shortcomings of the prior art are overcome and additional advantagesare provided through the provision of a laptop computer including a bodyand a display articulably connected to the body. The laptop computerincludes at least one drive unit capable of urging movement of thedisplay relative to the body. A method for moving the display relativeto the body is also disclosed.

Additional features and advantages are realized through the techniquesof the present invention. Other embodiments and aspects of the inventionare described in detail herein and are considered a part of the claimedinvention. For a better understanding of the invention with advantagesand features, refer to the description and to the drawings.

TECHNICAL EFFECTS

As a result of the summarized invention, technically we have achieved asolution which accomplishes movement of a laptop computer display tosuit a viewer's position. The movement of the display is accomplishedwithout a user needing to remove the user's hands from the keypad of thelaptop computer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The subject matter which is regarded as the invention is particularlypointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion ofthe specification. The foregoing and other objects, features, andadvantages of the invention are apparent from the following detaileddescription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a laptop computer;

FIG. 2 illustrates a partial view of the laptop computer of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates the laptop computer of FIG. 1 with a display inrotation about an axis;

FIG. 4 illustrates the laptop computer if FIG. 1 with a display inrotation about a second axis; and

FIG. 5 illustrates an additional view of the laptop computer of FIG. 1with a display in rotation about the second axis.

FIG. 6 illustrates a method of causing the display of the laptopcomputer to rotate relative to the body (FIGS. 3-5).

The detailed description explains the preferred embodiments of theinvention, together with advantages and features, by way of example withreference to the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Turning now to the drawings in greater detail, it will be seen that inFIG. 1 there is an embodiment of a laptop computer 10. The laptopcomputer 10 includes a main body 12 having a keypad 14, and a display16. The main body 12 and the display 16 are connected via a hingemechanism 18. The hinge mechanism 18 is configured with a hinge axis 20which allows for opening and closing of the laptop computer 10 byrotation about the hinge axis 20. To open the laptop computer 10, adisplay face 22 is rotated away from the keypad 14, and to close thelaptop computer 10, the display face 22 is rotated toward the keypad 14.

In some embodiments, the hinge mechanism 18 includes a rotation axis 24,which in some embodiments is substantially perpendicular to the hingeaxis 20. When the display 16 is rotated about the rotation axis 24, thedisplay 16 rotates in a side-to-side manner across the keypad 14.

The laptop computer 10 includes one or more activators, for example oneor more buttons 26, to direct movement of the display 16 about the hingeaxis 20 and about the rotation axis 24. The embodiment of FIG. 1includes a single button 26 which is disposed at a side face 28 of themain body 12. It is to be appreciated, however, that other button 26locations including a front face 30 of the main body and the keypad 14are contemplated within the scope of this disclosure. Referring to FIG.2, each button 26 is connected to one or more drive units, for examplemotors 32 which direct motion of the display 16 based on input receivedfrom the one or more buttons 26. In some embodiments, the motors 32 ofFIG. 1 are powered by a laptop battery 34, but it is to be appreciatedthat other power sources are contemplated within the scope of thisdisclosure.

To articulate the display 16, the button 26 is moved thereby signalingthe one or more motors 32 to drive the display 16 in an indicateddirection. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, moving the button 26 forwardfrom a home position 36 toward the hinge mechanism 18 results in themotors 32 actuating the hinge mechanism 18 to move the display 16 awayfrom the keypad 14 toward an open position by rotation about the hingeaxis 20. Referring to FIG. 3, moving the button 26 along the side face28 away from the hinge mechanism 18 results in the motors 32 actuatingthe hinge mechanism 18 to move the display 16 toward the keypad 14toward a closed position by rotation about the hinge axis 20. Referringto FIG. 4, when the button 26 is moved upward toward the keypad 14, themotors 32 move the display 16 in a counterclockwise direction 38 aboutthe rotation axis 24 so the display face 22 rotates to a user's right.Referring to FIG. 5, when the button 26 is moved downward away from thekeypad 14, the motors 32 move the display 16 in a clockwise direction 40about the rotation axis 24 so the display face 22 rotates to the user'sleft. The assignment of display 16 movement directions to button 26movement directions described herein is merely exemplary, otherassignments and relationships between button 26 movement and display 16movement are contemplated within the scope of the present disclosure.Movement of the display 16 continues until the button 26 is released andreturns to the home position 36 or until a mechanical or electricallimit on a range of motion of the display 16 is reached.

In some embodiments, a correlation of button 26 movement distance to amovement angle of the display 16 can be modified by the user through asetting on the laptop computer 10.

FIG. 6 illustrates a flow chart of a method 100 causing the display ofthe laptop computer to rotate relative to the body as describedpreviously in FIGS. 3-5. As described previously, the laptop computer 10has one or more activator on the sides and in step 100 a user operatesat least one of the activators available on the laptop. Operating theactivator on the laptop computer triggers an impulse, which is of aspecific nature as described in FIGS. 3-5, where the impulse, forexample an electrical signal, in step 120 triggers the driver unit ofthe laptop computer to perform certain operations as have been describedpreviously. In step 130, the drive unit determines the direction ofrotation from the impulse. Once the direction and amount of rotation isdetermined by the drive unit, in step 140, the drive unit performs therequired rotation of the display in the required direction by therequired amount. In step 150 a check is performed to ensure that thedisplay of the laptop has moved by the required amount and requireddirection as directed by the user. If the check indicates that themovement is not satisfactory, the step 140 is activated. If the displayhas moved by the required amount the in step 160, the drive unit hascompleted the task and waits for the next signal from the activator.When the next signal is received, the method starts from steps 110. Thecheck also verifies if the limitation of movement of the display isreached, the display unit will not be rotated even if the user operateson the activator for the movement of display unit. For example, when theuser wants to close the laptop using the activator, the user will keepit pressed until the laptop is closed, after that the drive unit willnot perform any tasks. Similarly for rotating the display unithorizontally, when the rotation of the display unit reaches to itslimit, for example, 180 degree of rotation is done, there will be nomore rotation performed by the drive unit, even if the activator isoperated by the user.

While the preferred embodiment to the invention has been described, itwill be understood that those skilled in the art, both now and in thefuture, may make various improvements and enhancements which fall withinthe scope of the claims which follow. These claims should be construedto maintain the proper protection for the invention first described.

1. A method for controlling the movement of a display of a laptopcomputer comprising a body articulably coupled to a display, the methodcomprising operating at least one activator coupled to the body of thelaptop, wherein the operation causes the display of the laptop to moverelative to the body of the laptop.
 2. The method of claim 1, whereinoperating the at least one activator comprises generating a signal fromthe activator to trigger a drive unit wherein the signal from theactivator causes the drive unit to move the display relative to the bodyof the laptop.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein in response to a signalreceived from the activator, the drive unit is configured for performinga rotations of the display in a chosen direction relative to the body ofthe laptop computer, wherein the direction of rotation of the display ischosen by a user.
 4. The method of claim 2, wherein in response to asignal received from the activator, the drive unit is configured forperforming a displacement of the display in a chosen direction relativeto the body of the laptop computer, wherein the displacement of thedisplay relative to the body is determined by a user.
 5. The method ofclaim 4, wherein the at least one drive unit is capable of moving thedisplay from a closed position toward an open position.
 6. The method ofclaim 4, wherein the at least one drive unit is capable of moving thedisplay transversely across a keyboard face of the body.
 7. The methodof claim 1, wherein the at least one activator is articulable in aplurality of activator directions, and each of the plurality ofactivator directions determining the degree of rotation and displacementof the display relative to the body.
 8. The method of claim 1, whereinthe at least one activator is disposed at a side face of the main body.9. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one activator is at leastone button.
 10. The method of claim 4, wherein the display isarticulably connected to the body via at least one hinge mechanismhaving a hinge axis.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the drive unitis capable of moving the display about the hinge axis.
 12. The method ofclaim 11, wherein the at least one hinge mechanism includes a rotationaxis substantially perpendicular to the hinge axis.
 13. The method ofclaim 12, wherein the at least one drive unit is capable of moving thedisplay about the rotation axis.
 14. The method of claim 2, wherein theat least one drive unit comprises at least one motor.
 15. The method ofclaim 2, wherein the at least one drive unit is operably connected to atleast one laptop computer power source.